Vanagon 50 degree oil pickup tube

[JoeCanuck]

I have a Vanagon diesel project that I'm finally working on.  It had a 1.6D, (turbo'd), with a JX pump and 50 degree conversion.  I started swapping the 50 degree stuff with a rebuilt AAZ and I'm getting my first look at the guts of these VW engines.

I seem to recall seeing pictures of very long oil pickup tubes...quite different from what I have in either engine.  I don't have any pics yet but the tubes seem quite short, though seem to be quite close to the bottom of the oil pan. 

The 1.6 had seized after about 1000 miles...possibly oil starvation from having the wrong pickup tube installed.  I'd rather not make the same mistake with the AAZ.

I'll post pics of what I have in the next day or so but in the meantime, I'd appreciate pics and/or part numbers of examples of the proper 50 degree oil pickups.

[libbydiesel]

This is a diesel vanagon oil pump. 



All other oil pump pickup tubes look noticeably different.

[JoeCanuck]

That is very different from what I have in either engine.  Mine is more of a tube coming off of the pump.  I'll get some pics up tonight.

[libbydiesel]

If it doesn't look like the above pic then it isn't for a vanagon 50° install.  All the ones with the bolted on metal tube are for the 15° install and will starve the engine of oil when installed at the vanagon angle.  The mystery of why the last engine seized after 1000 miles is solved.

[JoeCanuck]

Where would one acquire a proper 50 degree pickup?  Has anyone modded a stock 15 degree pickup to work?  On the surface, it seems like a fairly straight forward plumbing job.

[libbydiesel]

The entire diesel vanagon oil pump is available new for approx. $100.  It's common to see Febi or Meyle.  I'd go with Febi.  It's certainly possible to cut and weld the pickup tube, but I've never done so.  Trying to make it end up at the correct location and the risk of ruining an engine if it isn't done correctly has always made $100 sound cheap to me.

[Renax]

I can send the correct pickup, (it fits directly on the aaz pump). But shipping from norway might be more than its worth...

Cut and weld (or just use copper plumbing parts) is cheapest and fastest way..

The big mystery is how did the engine go 1000miles dry? Overfilled?
Do you also have the correct dipstick? In a Vanagon the dipstick tube bends back to the lisenceplate. Its not a direct fit for a AAZ engine, but with some "liquid gasket"  you can make it work;-)
If you have the AAZ dipstick it doesn't even touch the oil...

[JoeCanuck]

I'm inclined to try and fab an intake tube..placing the pickup a few mm above the center of the oil pan.  I also discovered I happen to have a windage tray, which I'll also install when final assembly begins...which will be in a few weeks since I've moving to Bend this weekend...which seems to be ground zero for vanagons. 

[Patrick]

If you do cut and weld can you post some pictures? I'm considering an odd swap and have a choice of 15 degree or 50 degree adaptors..

Looking at putting an AAZ in a '74 porsche 914.   Lots more torque and better mileage than the flat 4 2 litre that's in there now.

[theman53]

I cut and welded my tube to about 33 degrees for my jeep swap. The tube is stainless, tig away.